What is this thing that's never been mentioned before?

[Svrtnsse]

Consider the following section:

“That's the spirit my friend. If you're lucky you may even see some wind sprites up there. They like the view too.”
“Oh, nice.” He'd seen wind sprites on TV, and now and then the little soot kin that raced in front of the subway trains back home, but never real wild wind sprites.

Would you say that the context gives you at least a vague impression of what soot kin are?

 

[teacup]

I'd say it does. I know from this that there are some soot things that are presumably alive, and that they are close to wind sprites.

 

[Svrtnsse]

Cheers. It doesn't have to be more than that. I figured it would be the case, but also that it wouldn't hurt to make sure.

Thanks.

 

[T.Allen.Smith]

I agree with Teacup. I get a vague impression of a smoky, sooty sprite.

Question though:
Will Soot Kin comes up in the story later?

If so, I think the vague & early description is fine. If not, why include it at all?

 

[Svrtnsse]

Wind sprites will be included later and I ay mention the soot kin (their dirty urban cousins) again when that happens. Other than that the reason I'm mentioning them here is so that I can also mention the subway. The reason I want to mention the subway (and the TV) is to remind the reader that the POV character is from a place that's a little different and that seeing the wind sprite would be something exotic.

A comparison would be if he had a chance to see eagles when his only previous experience of birds are the doves in the park back home.

 

[T.Allen.Smith]

Cool.... You've got a solid reasoning.

 

[Svrtnsse]

Cool.... You've got a solid reasoning.

Cheers. It's good to know the theory is sound. Remains to be seen how it turns out in practice, but that's a different story.